THE NRPA URBAN YOUTH INITIATIVE.

"Our Youth."

"Give them the Exposure to help them Believe."

"Give them the Opportunity to help them Achieve."

Today's youth face difficult issues: drugs, alcohol, gangs, conflict, and school dropout. However, with motivation, stimulation, encouragement, and incentive, they will be able to overcome any obstacle. All youths want to be a part of positive endeavors and want to succeed.

It is our role as professionals in the field of parks and recreation to provide youths with many exposures, which in turn lead to greater options for opportunity.

With this concept, we at NRPA have created the NRPA Urban Youth Initiative (UYI). The goals of this program are: 1) Increase the public awareness of programs and activities being implemented in urban areas, 2) Broaden the knowledge of youth in regards to the field of recreation and the many opportunities it presents, 3) Implement partnerships that provide programs in urban areas, which will be utilized to concentrate on awareness, confidence, and self-esteem. This initiative has assisted us in becoming familiar with successful programs throughout the country. This issue of P&R magazine highlights advancements in providing quality recreation for urban youth, allowing us the opportunity to showcase parks and recreation departments in urban/inner city settings, whose success stories may have gone unnoticed. The NRPA UYI intends to continue to bring attention to programs all across the country. The goal is to show how urban/inner city programs are just as effective and as important as any other parks and recreation program.

Through these articles you will be able to see that there is no "cookie cutter" method in establishing positive opportunities for youth. The one similar characteristic you will find in all of these programs is that the objective is to provide a benefit to youth. Each program offers to youth the necessary tools needed to be productive and successful adults.

All youths want the chance to be successful and to believe in someone or something. As we continue to move forward, we will need professionals in our field to continue to strive to be in the forefront in providing positive resolution and opportunities to these youngsters. Inside each young person is the ability to be a lawyer, doctor, nurse, principal, architect, policeman, fireman, electrical engineer, or any number of other careers. Our hope is that this initiative will assist our professionals in motivating youths to recognize, develop, and implement the attitudes, skills, and thinking necessary to be successful adults.